Oklahoma Gazette Publisher Forms a New Parent Company

Oklahoma City newspaper publisher Bill Bleakley has acquired full interest in the newspapers he publishes and has formed a parent company to direct his publishing activities.

Bleakley has published Oklahoma Gazette since he founded it in 1979. The newspaper is the third largest newspaper and largest weekly newspaper in Oklahoma. He purchased OKCBusiness, a biweekly business publication, in 2003. It has the largest circulation of any business newspaper in Oklahoma.

Both publications are now a part of Tierra Media Group, which also includes High Plains Events LLC that organizes and conducts public events for member publications and other parties. The organization operates and aggressively markets websites okgazette.com and okcbusiness.com that are associated with its print publications.

"The synergism resulting from our new organizational structure will strengthen all of our publications and collateral endeavors," Bleakley predicted. "The publications retain their absolute editorial integrity and independence."

Oklahoma Gazette and High Plains Events have organized downtown Oklahoma City's inaugural Halloween parade, Gazette's Ghouls Gone Wild. "Thousands are expected to participate and observe the event which celebrates artistry and creativity in Oklahoma City," predicts Gazette associate publisher Jeffri-Lynn Dyer. "Grand Marshal Wayne Coyne and the Flaming Lips are expected to be a big draw." More information is available at ghoulsgonewildokc.com.

Bleakley says all future plans relate to Central Oklahoma. "We don't consider ourselves a chain because everything we do relates to niches right here in Central Oklahoma. Oklahoma City is a very hot economy and we're positioned right in the middle of it with no intention of acquiring properties outside of this market."

For more information, contact: Bill Bleakley, President Tierra Media Group 405.528.6000 publisher@okgazette.com